Diversity of fungal latent pathogens and true endophytes associated with fruit trees in Uruguay

Abstract

We have explored the fungal diversity in asymptomatic twigs of apple, peach, pear and blueberry trees, with the objective of discerning between true endophytes and latent pathogens. Several fungal genera containing known bark pathogens were found. Seven Diaporthe species—D. oxe, D. infecunda, D. serafiniae, D. phaseolorum, D. terebinthifolii, D. foeniculina and D. brasiliensis—were identified, along with Botryosphaeria dothidea, Neofusicoccum parvum, Neofusicoccum australe, Cytospora sp., Cytospora acaciae and Pestalotiopsis spp. A pathogenicity trial was undertaken to determine the role of these species on apple, pear, blueberry and peach shoots. Diaporthe brasiliensis, D. foeniculina, Diaporthe inconspicua, D. terebinthifolii, Diaporthe sp.1, Cytospora‐like isolates and Pestalotiopsis spp. isolates produced no lesions on inoculated shoots, suggesting that they could be considered true endophytes on their respective hosts. Meanwhile, some of the isolates of Diaporthe—D. oxe, Diaporthe sp.2, D. infecunda and D. serafiniae, B. dothidea, N. parvum and N. australe could be regarded as latent pathogens in their respective hosts as they produced sunken cankers and necrosis on inoculated shoots. These results demonstrate that apple, pear, blueberry and peach healthy shoots can host many known endophytic fungi along with potential wood disease‐causing fungi that should be regarded as latent pathogens.

Fungal endophytes promote the accumulation of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids in Lycoris radiata

“…Fungal lifestyles could change in response to host internal signals or environmental factors (Rai and Agarkar, 2014). As expected, some fungal endophytes isolated in L. radiata have been reported as latent pathogens in other plants, such as members in the genera Fusarium, Phyllosticta, Colletotrichum, Phoma and Diaporthe (Biggs, 1995;Rodriguez and Redman, 2008;Wikee et al, 2013;Demers et al, 2015;Sessa et al, 2018). We assumed that these latent pathogens could exhibit an endophytic lifestyle in L. radiata, because of the existence of alkaloids having antimicrobial activity in planta (Liu and Reinscheid, 2004;Bednarek, 2012;Pusztahelyi et al, 2015).…”

“…As expected, some fungal endophytes isolated in L . radiata have been reported as latent pathogens in other plants, such as members in the genera Fusarium , Phyllosticta , Colletotrichum , Phoma and Diaporthe (Biggs, ; Rodriguez and Redman, ; Wikee et al ., ; Demers et al ., ; Sessa et al ., ). We assumed that these latent pathogens could exhibit an endophytic lifestyle in L .…”

Diversity and Pathogenicity of Diaporthe Species Revealed from a Survey of Blueberry Orchards in Portugal

“…These symptoms have been associated with an assemblage of species comprising D. ambigua, D. amygdali, D. australafricana, D. baccae, D. crousii, D. eres, D. foeniculina, D. oxe, D. passiflorae, D. phillipsii, D. rossmaniae, D. rudis, and D. vaccinii (syn. D. eres) [2,8,17,[19][20][21].…”

Fungal Endophytic Community Associated with Guarana (Paullinia cupana Var. Sorbilis): Diversity Driver by Genotypes in the Centre of Origin

“…Both genera have been extensively associated with the endophytic community in different plants [ 62 , 104 , 105 ] but are also important pathogens of a wide range of hosts such as pepper, soy, alfalfa and many other cultivable plants [ 101 , 106 , 107 ]. Several studies have shown that pathogenic or parasitic fungi are found as endophytes [ 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 ]. In this situation, endophytes are latent pathogens that infect the plant, and persist in a dormant phase without causing symptoms in the host [ 113 ].…”